A faculty perspective from Assistant Professor in the Practice of Marketing Marina Cooley on work, love, money, friendship, and building a meaningful life. Originally published on the Professor Off Duty Substack.
When I was getting my MBA, one of my professors spent the last day of class sharing life advice instead of accounting principles. It was the first—and only—time in all my years of education that a professor stepped outside their domain and spoke honestly about life itself. I won’t share her wisdom because it’s not mine to share, but I will tell you that my best friend and I have returned to that lecture dozens of times over the years as we’ve navigated work, family, ambition, and adulthood.
When I became the person standing at the front of the classroom, I knew I wanted to do something similar for my students: to spend one class lowering my guard, going beyond marketing strategy and career advice, and sharing a few things I believe to be true about building a well-lived life.
I’m currently in Denmark teaching the in-person version of Happiness Blueprint with an incredible group of MBA students who I know will go on to influence culture at their future organizations.
The tradeoff is that I’m missing graduation week back home, and my heart hurts a bit not getting to celebrate with my students as they leave academia and head out into the “real world.”
So to the Class of 2026, here are 26 things I want you to know:
- Your first job will not be your best job. Your parents want you to get a “stable” job. Your peers want you to get a “cool” job. You want to get a job that allows you to live out your “purpose.” Hitting that triple bullseye with your first job is statistically unlikely. Once you accept that, the pressure is off.
- Choosing your partner may be the most important decision you ever make. If you’re lucky, this bond will last longer than any job, career, or friendship. Other than your family (who you can’t choose), this could be the longest relationship of your life.
- Adopt a beginner’s mindset. Learning to be bad at something is its own skill set and one few have.
- Get a notebook. Take it out at meetings. I promise you, people will be impressed. You will also be shocked at the impact of a handwritten note.
- Don’t be afraid to care. It’s ok to try hard. Be earnest, even cringe, without apology.
- Start saving early. Albert Einstein said, “The most powerful force in the world is compounding interest.” He’s right. Becoming financially literate has never been more accessible.
- Wear sunscreen. You won’t regret it. (You won’t regret flossing either).
- Lifestyle creep is very, very real. If you find yourself in “I deserve this” territory, the creep is happening.
- The best insurance policy against burnout is a hobby. Find a hobby that lets you rediscover joy, stop scrolling, connect with a new friend, sleep deeply, and feel human. Going off duty will be your greatest defense in this loud, chaotic world.
- Learn to be happy alone.
- Effortless things are rarely effortless. When something looks easy, you’re probably looking at someone’s tenth draft or one hundredth practice session.
- Spend time without inputs. My best ideas arrive when I’m walking without noise, showering, or driving in silence. I create these moments every single day to increase the number of good ideas I have.
- Read fiction.
- Your 20s are hard. Where to live? What career? Grad school? Partner? The human mind hates uncertainty. Be ready for angst.
- Don’t let this expression be true for you: Youth is wasted on the young.
- You will miss out on a windfall. There will be some crazy opportunity at a startup that you say no to that ends up hitting. It’s okay. Bitterness won’t serve you. Also, you will dodge a few bullets. People don’t talk about the startups that failed.
- Preparation will put you ahead of 90% of people. Most people bumble meeting to meeting. Don’t be that person. As Benjamin Franklin said, “Failing to prepare is preparing to fail.”
- Traveling with someone will teach you more about them than just about anything else. Do this before moving in! Ideally you’ll have a flight delayed, train cancelled–this is your opportunity to see someone under duress so it’s a perfect roommate and partner test. If they’re still fun, they pass.
- A significant part of adulthood is figuring out what to eat every night. Welcome.
- Learn how to write clearly. It will mean you know how to think clearly.
- Some friendships really are for a season.
- Life is not linear, especially when it comes to your career. On average, people have 12 jobs in their lifetimes with a typical tenure lasting three years. Some jobs are a step up, some are lateral, some are a leap down (or off) to a new piece of playground equipment.
- Following your passion is tough. So you love music or beauty or fashion. A lot of people do, which makes these industries competitive and underpaid. Is it possible to love those things as a hobby and do work you excel at?
- Advocate for yourself. You won’t get anything if you don’t ask (raise, promotion, referral at the doctor, etc). You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take (Wayne Gretzky).
- Don’t write off envy as a terrible emotion. Use it to get clarity on what you want.
- Ask yourself this one question every night. The corporate world can be soulless–email, Slack, text, ping, ping, ping—but you don’t have to surrender to a life of constant duty and responsibility. “What did I make today?” is a simple way to remind yourself who you are and what you love. Hopefully, you’ll be able to name something every day, but even if you just get to 50% of the time, you’ll be doing okay.
This list isn’t finished and never will be! What is the best piece of wisdom you would want to share with my students?
Your friend,
For more commencement coverage, visit commencement.emory.edu.
Read more of Marina Cooley’s insights on leadership, career development, and intentional living on her Professor Off Duty Substack.
